Singapore Among World's Most Affordable Dining Cities, Tourists Say Otherwise

September 23, 2025 | 04:05 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The culinary magazine Chef's Pencil has ranked Singapore the sixth most affordable city in the world for dining out, and the second in Asia.

The report notes that casual dining in the city-state averages around US$9.30 (Rp160,000), accounting for just 0.2 percent of the average monthly salary. Meals at mid-range restaurants cost about US$39 (Rp650,000), or 0.8 percent of an individual’s income.

With an average monthly salary of US$4,642 (Rp77 million), a Singapore resident could theoretically dine out more than 500 times a month at budget-friendly restaurants, according to the New York-based magazine.

The list of most affordable dining destinations is dominated by Asian cities. Shenzhen, China, placed second, followed by Hong Kong, Doha, Seoul, and Shanghai.

Chef’s Pencil analyzed the ratio of affordable meal costs to local average salaries across 177 cities worldwide, citing the results as an indicator of how much food someone earning the median wage can buy each month, reported Time Out.

Expensive for Tourists

Despite Singapore’s strong showing in affordability rankings, many foreign visitors perceive the city as expensive for dining. Recently, American tourists voiced frustration at the high cost of food, calling Singapore “not for the poor.”

Among them was American content creator Terry Pernell, who visited the city with Kenyan travel influencer Mag after spending nearly two months backpacking in Malaysia and Bali, according to The New Paper.

On September 11, Pernell posted a video from Newton Food Centre titled: “I paid US$35 for food in Singapore... while Malaysia gets the same vibe at half the price. Which one would you choose?”

The US$35 (S$45 or Rp583,100) bill covered 10 satay skewers, stir-fried beef, and a large plate of egg fried rice.

“Singapore isn’t for the poor,” Mag remarked in the video.

The post sparked mixed reactions from Singaporeans. Some users dismissed Newton Food Centre as an overpriced tourist hotspot, while others argued that the video failed to reflect everyday dining options in the city, where similar meals can be found at significantly lower prices.

Editor’s Choice: Best Budget-Friendly Michelin Restaurants in Singapore

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